Our Performing Artists

Marcus Hissen
trombone

Marcus Hissen was born in Euskirchen, Germany and grew up on Vancouver Island, BC. A member of the Victoria Symphony since 2004, he contributes passionately to the Symphony's outreach and education programs.

Driven by the belief that the performing arts find their greatest relevance within the context of the local community, Marcus directs his energies toward developing diverse collaborations with other regional artists.

In 2005, Marcus was co-director of Gros Morne Summer Music, a unique and innovative chamber music festival in rural Newfoundland. His experiences with GMSM spawned a strong conviction that creative arts are key to overcoming the growing ecological challenges that we all share.

Christopher Taber
violin

Originally from Washington State, Christopher Taber received full scholarship to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and San Francisco State University, where he graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Music degree. He studied with Ge-Fang Yang and Camilla Wicks, and has performed with members of the Purcell String Quartet, the Alexander String Quartet, the Philadelphia String Quartet, and the Emerson String Quartet.

Christopher has been a featured soloist with the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, Port Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Victoria Chamber Orchestra, and Port Townsend Symphony. In the winter of 2007, Christopher played with the Victoria Symphony in the Canadian premiere of Richard Strauss’ “Daphne.” In the spring of 2008, he performed Vaughn-Williams, The Lark Ascending, with the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra. He is Concertmaster of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and a full time substitute with the Victoria Symphony. He lives in Victoria, BC and teaches at his home studio with his wife, Christine and baby son, William.

Masako Hockey
percussion

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Masako Hockey received her formal training from two of Japan's foremost music schools: her Masters Degree (MA) in Music Performance (Percussion) was obtained from the renowned Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music and her undergraduate degree from The Musashino Academia Musicae.

Masako has performed with a great variety of musical ensembles in situations ranging from major symphony orchestras in Japan, such as the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, to opera houses and theater groups.

In drumming circles, Masako was a member of the Tokyo Pipe Band, competing in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in 1999. The next year, she was Japan's only female Scottish rudimental pipe band snare drummer to have won a major scholarship award in drumming abroad (Tacoma Washington, 2000).

Masako is a licensed music teacher in Japan, having provided instruction for both Junior and High School students throughout the country, as well as conducting private lessons to children from her private studio in Sayama City. Currently, Masako performs with several ensembles here in Victoria, namely The Victoria Symphony Orchestra and with the new music group Aventa.

Rebecca Hissen
clarinet

Rebecca Hissen is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, New York City (Mmus, 2005) where she studied with Mark Nuccio of the New York Philharmonic. She is active locally as a chamber recitalist and orchestral player, performing with the Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra.

As an educator, Rebecca is passionate about providing younger students with opportunities to learn about the joy of live music making. Whether it is through private studio lessons or as part of the Vancouver Islands Symphonys outreach programs, she works to help children develop a desire for positive self expression through the creative arts.